Service of Remembrance - WKTV Journal

The annual Sept. 11 Community Day of Remembrance and Scout Salute will take place at eight Michigan outdoor locations (Courtesy photo)

By WKTV Staff

Scouting America’s Michigan Crossroads Council is once again hosting the annual Sept. 11 Community Day of Remembrance and Scout Salute. The annual event will commemorate the 23rd anniversary of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

The Sept. 11 Community Day of Remembrance and Scout Salute has been held annually from sunrise to sunset since Sept. 11, 2002 on the plaza at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum (GRFPM).

9/11 Memorial & Museum North and South Pools are etched with the names of those lost during the terrorist attacks (Courtesy, pxhere.com)

Honorary co-chairs of this year’s commemoration include: Col. James F. Grady II, Director, Michigan State Police; Kevin J. Sehlmeyer, Michigan State Fire Marshall; U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Paul D. Rogers, Adjunct General and Director of the Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.

“The Michigan State Police is honored to join this observance reflecting on our first responders, military members and those who tragically lost their lives on Sept. 11, 2001,” said Col. James F. Grady II, Director of the MSP. “We shall never forget the sacrifices made.”

Those who cannot make it to the activities scheduled around the state of Michigan can participate by sharing photos of themselves saluting, or by viewing the activities at the Scouting America Michigan Cross Roads Council Facebook page. Various activities from all locations will be live streamed on the Facebook page.

Details regarding locations can be found here.

Grand Rapids, MI

For the 23rd year, the community is invited to join the Michigan Crossroads Council, Boy Scouts of America as they lead the West Michigan community in a day-long “Scout Salute” at the GRFPM to pay respect to all those who died during the terrorist attacks.
At sunrise and sunset color guards from the Grand Rapids Police and Fire Departments will lower and raise the flag outside of the museum to commemorate the opening (7:19 a.m.) and closing (7:59 p.m.) of day’s events.
At 5:30 p.m. the Salvation Army Band will perform.
At 6 p.m. there will be a program featuring speakers including Donald Shepard, CEO of Scouting American Michigan Crossroads Council; Carly Swanson, on behalf of Governor Whitmer; Tom Stephenson, himself an Eagle Scout, will share remarks on behalf of Senator Gary Peters; Kevin J. Sehlmeyer, Michigan State Fire Marshall; and Salvation Army Major Tim Meyer.
The final salute will take place at 7:59 p.m. with Echo Taps closing the event at sundown.

Schedule of events

The schedule of events for the Community Day of Remembrance and Scout Salute on Sunday, Sept. 11, 2023, at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum include:

(All Sept. 11 events will be held outside. Those wishing to visit the museum must purchase tickets in advance at www.fordlibrarymuseum.gov)

Community and Scouts continuously salute from sunrise to sunset.

7:15 a.m. Honor Guard Lowers Flag (GR Police)

7:18 a.m. Scout Salute Begins

7:50 a.m. Share Events of the Day/Close Program (Retired Firefighter Ken Chudy)

8:46 a.m. Ring Bell for South Tower (GR Fire)

9:03 a.m. Ring Bell for North Tower (GR Fire)

9:37 a.m. Ring Bell for Pentagon (GR Fire)

10:03 a.m. Ring Bell for United Airline Flight 9 (GR Fire)

5:30 p.m. Salvation Army Band Performs

6:10 p.m. Program Begins

6:45 p.m. Closing Benediction (Salvation Army Major Timothy Meyer)

7:59 p.m. Final Salute with Echo Taps

8:00 p.m. Scout Salute Closes

Grand Rapids location address:

Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum, 303 Pearl St NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49504

Additional commemoration activity locations

The Albion Legion Post 55 at Riverside Cemetery
The USS Edson, located at the Saginaw Valley Naval Ship Museum in Bay City
Farmington, at the Walter Sundquist Pavilion in Riley Park
Muskegon, at the USS LST 393 World War II landing ship
Michigan State Police Paw Paw Post
Young Patriots Park in Riverview
Traverse City, at the Grand Traverse Metro Emergency Services Authority

Faith Hospice will hosts its annual Service of Remembrance and Butterfly Release Thursday, June 13 at its Trillium Woods campus in Byron Center. (Supplied)

By Faith Hospice

Local hospice provider, Faith Hospice, is holding a special event on Thursday, June 13, at its Trillium Woods campus that invites families who have lost loved ones in its care to join together in honor and remembrance through the release of butterflies. The second annual Service of Remembrance and Butterfly Release will be held at 7 p.m. at Trillium Woods, 8214 Pfeiffer Farms Drive, SW in Byron Center.

The Service of Remembrance and Butterfly Release provides just that for those who participate. It is an opportunity for families to gather together to honor the lives of the person or people who have passed away. Because butterflies are often considered deep and powerful representations of life, and the transformation that some people of faith believe, they are a wonderful symbol of the life of the individual.

One of last year’s attendees gets ready to release a butterfly. (Supplied)

In 2018, approximately 170 people attended the service and released butterflies in honor of family and friends. The theme of this year’s remembrance is “We Grieve With Hope.”

“Many of the families who participated in 2018 walked away with a sense of hope and of new beginnings as the butterflies were released,” said Faith Hospice Bereavement Manager Janet Jaymin. “Grieving is composed of so many stages and remembering the life of your loved one is a key part of the process.”

Community members are invited to attend the event as well. Registration is required by calling 616-356-4820. More information can be found at faithhospice.org/events.

“Bereavement, or the process of grieving a loved one, is a very personal experience,” Jaymin said. “One of the most important things about the grieving process is that every person’s grief is unique and that recovering from grief does not mean forgetting your loss or your loved one because we don’t forget the people we love. Taking the time to remember and commemorate their life is a significant part of the grieving process.”